Washington Bryant, a white farmer, charged with assault on his son, Sam Bryant, which is said to have occurred last Friday, was fined $50 and costs when tried in Recorder’s Court Thursday. His attorneys gave notice of appeal to Superior Court, and Bryant was put under a $100 bond for his appearance then.
Sam, 18-year-old son of Bryant, who swore out the warrant against his father, claiming that he had been beaten unmercifully by him, was put on the stand, and told the tale that he had related to the authorities when he had his father arrested.
The boy stated that Friday he was over at Ab Porter’s home, which is located about a mile east of Duke, when his father drove up in an automobile in the company of another white man, L. B. Bolton. He said that his father called him out to the car, accused him of stealing his liquor still, and asked him where it was. When he denied stealing his still, he was called a liar by his father, and knocked blat on his back, beaten up thoroughly and told to get in the car, where Bolton held a gun on him, according to the testimony of young Bryant. When he arrived home he was tied and locked in the meat house the boy stated, and he added that his father declared he would keep him there two weeks. He said that he remained there for half a day before he loosed himself and was able to escape.
When cross examined, Sam Bryant said that he had been gone from his father’s home for about five days when the assault occurred. When asked if he had stolen shirts and other articles from his father, he denied it. He was asked if his father hit him after he was carried from Porter’s house, and he replied that he beat him up again when his home was reached. He declared that he was then tied and thrown in the meat house, where he remained until he was able to free himself.
Mrs. Porter testified that she was home at the time of the alleged occurrence, and stated that she saw Wash Bryant knock down and boy, and put him in the car. She said that she was unable to hear the conversation.
When Bryant was put on the stand he (words obscured) an explanation of what took place tome time prior to the alleged assault, saying that his son had been staying away from home, stealing his shirts ad everything else he could get his hands on, but the testimony was declared incompetent by the court, and he was asked to state only what happened at the time of the incident Friday.
Bryant states that he drove up to Porter’s house and was met at the car by his son, whom he reprimanded for staying off from home, and declared that he would teach him a lesson. He denied asking him if he had stolen his still, but said that he did get after him for stealing other things from him. He admitted slapping the boy one time, and said that the boy fell to the ground, but he denied tying him or having Bolton hold a gun on him, as testified by Sam.
After leaving the house, Bryant continued, he carried Sam home, and locked him up in the meat house. He admitted threatening to keep him there for two weeks, “to teach him a lesson,” he explained, but he said that he was going to release him that day but the boy got out on his own accord.
When cross examined, Bryant steadily denied accusing his son of stealing his still and of even having a still. N.A. Townsend, prosecuting attorney for the state, said that he would not go into the past record of Bryant, that being already well known.
Sam Bryant still retained a few of the marks which he declared he received when his father assaulted him, and he said that he was afraid of his father. He said that he had been back to his home only once since the incident occurred and that he went then when his father weas in Duke, and for the purpose of getting his clothes.
E.F. Young, James Bost, and C.L. Guy, appearing for the defendant, gave notice of appeal when the verdict of the court was rendered.
From the front page of the Dunn Dispatch, July 19, 1921
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